UPDATE December 3, 2007: Southwest issued cease-and-desist orders to both of these sites, too. Looks like the automated check-in game is over.
In June 2006, Southwest Airlines sued the owners of a small website, boardfirst.com, that gave travelers the opportunity to automatically check into their flights 24 hours before takeoff. As Southwest travelers know, the key to getting a good seat under their open seating system is checking in early — especially now that the boarding passes are numbered, and not just divided into groups A, B, and C.
Southwest wouldn’t have any little pipsqueak helping their customers get an early spot in line, so they sued. Well, the airline won.
Speculation is now rife that they’ll introduce their own early-check-in system for a fee someday soon.
Looking back at my post from last year, in which six boarding-pass providers were named, only one is still up and running: PlaneFast.com. Better yet, PlaneFast is free to use (though they welcome donations). A new entrant, Pass-a-matic, is in a beta testing phase, but with PlaneFast already up and running — and free — why mess with a beta test when you can work with an established player?
So options still exist. Just fewer of them. In any case, boo Southwest.
UPDATE December 3, 2007: Southwest issued cease-and-desist orders to both of these sites, too. Looks like the automated check-in game is over.
Related:
- Getting the best seats on Southwest just got harder
- Southwest’s revised seating policy
- Southwest tests “families-only” section on planes
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October 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
your a douchebag!
October 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
And you’re a rude person with bad grammar! But perhaps you’re paying me a compliment?
http://www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com/
October 13th, 2007 at 8:39 am
For the sake of keeping the sanity here – [and I've said this before] I really enjoy reading your material and am a regular reader. Thanks for the work you do here!
October 14th, 2007 at 12:30 am
And now it looks like I shall be destine to only fly Southwest once. Getting to the front of the line is a great incentive for myself to fly Southwest in the first place but I can understand if they want to cash in at some future date by up-charging for the opportunity in the first place.
I’m not saying that not getting a guaranteed enumerated A-pass would spoil the experience but I will have to say I’m a finicky flyer that much likes to avoid the dreaded double ‘excuse me’ routine having to cross two occupied seats by jumping to the front of the line or upgrading to next level of service cabin.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:12 am
And thank you again for your kind words.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
[...] Link: Upgrade: Travel Better [...]
October 25th, 2007 at 6:39 am
[...] Link: Upgrade: Travel Better [...]
November 29th, 2007 at 10:00 am
[...] As of October 2007, most services offering automated check-in have folded. See here for the update. Of the services mentioned below, only PlaneFast is still offering the service for a [...]
December 4th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
PlaneFast is down now.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Darn. Passamatic, too. Both received cease-and-desist orders.
Original post updated to reflect the changes.
Sigh.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
So what options are you referring to Mark?
Does this mean there are other sites still?
December 12th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Alas, no, there are no options left. Southwest’s lawyers got to all of them.
I edited the post for clarity. When a policy changes, I leave the original post up, but add additional information as an update. I just moved it for emphasis.